Title: RawAuthor: iulia_linneaPairing: Everett!Severus/DaphneRating: PG-13Warning (highlight to view): For extremely difficult childbirth and implied temporary character death.Word Count: 495Summary: Everett and Daphne are bound by something stronger than death. Disclaimer: This work of fan fiction is based on characters and situations created by J. K. Rowling and owned by J. K. Rowling and various publishers, including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books, Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made from (and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended by) the posting of this fan work.Author's Note: This ficlet answers arynwy's prompt of Severus can't stop crying. Why? and Shog's prompt of Whatever happened to the onion? and takes place in the universe of the Thoroughly Inappropriate Series (see relevant tag below).

The monitoring charms, which Everett could only perceive as diffuse blotches of colour through his tears, began to dim, and he clasped Daphne's hand more tightly as the cries of an infant filled the chamber.

Again, a baby cried, but Everett couldn't tear his eyes from Daphne, no matter that he couldn't see her clearly through his tears.

Don't leave me.

"Your son is healthy, Mr—

"Oh, Everett, please. P—please hold—"

The monitoring charms went dark as Daphne fell silent.

"No! You can't leave me!" Everett exclaimed, thrusting his hands into his robes.

"Mr Blake, what are you doing?"

Everett didn't know, but he ignored Chalmers and pulled the onion from his robes, slicing a piece of it off and thrusting it into Daphne's mouth. He dropped the larger piece and took her hand in his. "Don't leave me. Don't leave me. Don't l—eave me, D—Daphne. Please, please don't leave me."

"Oh, Mr Blake, I'm so sorry, but—"

The warm pink glow of the revived monitoring charm stopped Chalmers from speaking, and Everett held his breath, desperate to feel hers against his lips.

"Daphne? Daphne, come back to me," he murmured against her mouth, heedless of his tears. "Come back to us."

She sighed.

"Daphne?"

Everett scrubbed at his eyes and saw hers flutter, flutter and narrow as she spat out the onion.